Innovation[X] Program
The Innovation[X] Program provides grants that allow multidisciplinary teams of faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs to work together to address complex real-world challenges. Faculty may apply for grants of up to $20,000 to facilitate year-long projects. The number of grants to be awarded depends on funding and application levels.
The Innovation[X] Program is an opportunity to engage a broad array of students in a transformative learning project and explore translating research into actions that will have an impact on the community, nation, and the world. Teams must consist of an interdisciplinary set of faculty members and a multidisciplinary team of 10-20 students, both undergraduate and graduate, from across the university. Proposals should demonstrate a team-based approach to a complex problem and include meaningful deliverables. These may include, but are not limited to, published reports, curated exhibits, workable data sets to motivate further research, marketable goods or services, or impactful solutions to community challenges. Projects may engage external partners such as private companies, government agencies, NGOs, school districts, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Faculty Eligibility
- All teams must have two leaders, one of whom must be an active faculty member. Graduate students, postdocs, or staff may serve as co-leaders alongside a faculty member.
- Team leaders should represent at least two distinct disciplinary perspectives; preferably from two different departments.
- Any faculty member may submit a proposal, but only one proposal is required per project.
Project Eligibility Criteria
- Projects should bridge disciplines and areas of expertise.
- Projects should be vertically integrated among levels of expertise and learning.
- Projects should address societal challenges.
Proposal Elements
- Project information (Project name, Primary contact person, etc.)
- Estimated budget
- Description (Research question or Fundamental Problem, context, and proposed goals for project)
- Team leadership and proposed composition of student team (proposed number of undergrads, graduate students, and postdocs on your student team)
- External partners and/or locations
- Project details (potential travel, IRB needs, timeline, etc.)
- Collaboration plan (how team will function, milestones, format of team check-ins, frequency of team meetings, division of labor, etc.)
Project Selection Criteria
Projects will be selected by a faculty committee drawn from across the university. Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria.
- Interdisciplinarity: Does the project engage students and faculty across disciplines?
- Societal Relevance: Does the project engage in the solution to a real-world problem?
- Vertical Integration: Does the project foster collaboration across educational levels?
- Teamwork: Does the project foster team-based work?
- Deliverables: Does the proposal articulate clear and achievable goals within the scope of the project?
Budget Guidelines
Budgets may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Graduate student support
- Domestic and international travel support
- Special research materials
- Student travel
- Budgets may not include salary support for faculty or staff.
*The maximum amount that can be requested from Innovation[X] $20,000.
If the proposal will be part of a larger funded project, please describe other funds to be used, so that the committee better understands the scope of the project.
Project Timing: 2021-2022
- Initial Proposals will be accepted through 11:59 pm on February 22, 2021.
- Faculty Team Leaders will be notified by early May 2021.
- Student applications will be accepted through July 2021.
- Student selection will occur late Summer 2021.
- Projects must begin no later than Fall 2021.
Project Timing: 2022-2023
- Initial Proposals will be accepted beginning late fall 2021.
- Faculty Team Leaders will be notified by early spring 2022.
- Student applications will be accepted through summer 2022.
- Student selection will occur summer 2022.
- Projects must begin no later than fall 2022.
Call For Proposals:
Innovation[X] 2022-2023
LAUNCH will make the next call for Innovation[X] proposals by the end of the fall 2021 semester. As a reminder, Innovation[X] grants allow multidisciplinary teams of faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs to work together to address complex real-world challenges. All teams must contain both undergraduate and graduate students. At least 8-10 of the student team members must be undergrads. Faculty may apply for grants of up to $20,000 to facilitate year-long projects. The number of grants to be awarded will depend on funding and application levels. Funding begins September 1, 2022. The deadline for 2022-2023 proposals will be in spring 2022.
For questions or to discuss potential project ideas and teams, please contact Assistant Director Emily Finbow at innovationx@tamu.edu.
